Neil Hudson MP: written questions 2024
76 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Mental Health Services: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 21068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) the adequacy of funding for mental health services and (b) the potential impact of the level of that funding on waiting lists for such services.
Answer: Adequate funding for mental health services is important. While funding for reforms and improvements to mental health services will be decided at the Spending Review, the Autumn Budget provided an extra £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordFire and Rescue Services: FinanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 20510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment on the potential impact of the removal of the Funding Guarantee Scheme on the Fire and Rescue Service.
Answer: We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. That is why in the provisional Settlement for 2025-26 we have made available £69 billion for local government including a £5 referendum principle for ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProcessed Food and SlaughterhousesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19815More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of his Department collecting information on how many (a) abattoirs and (b) food processing plants in (i) England and (ii) the UK a
Answer: There are 232 approved Food Standards Agency (FSA) abattoirs across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and the FSA records which are sole traders, partnerships, and incorporated companies. The majority of food processing plants are overseen by local aut...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPolice: EssexHome OfficeTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19814More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of police officers in (i) Epping Forest constituency and (ii) Essex.
Answer: The retention of police officers is an important element of managing the police workforce. Voluntary resignation rates in England and Wales, at 3.4%, are low compared to other sectors.It is important that police forces use effective strategies to manage t...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFurther Education and Universities: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19813More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the financial resilience of the (a) university and (b) colleges sectors.
Answer: The department recognises that the financial position of the higher education (HE) sector is under pressure and this government has acted quickly to address this.The department accepted, in full, the recommendations of the independent review of the Office...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBSEDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the discovery of a case of atypical BSE in a cow in Scotland on UK agriculture.
Answer: BSE is not a contagious disease. There is no risk to animal and human health or food safety as a result of this isolated case. Unlike classical BSE, which occurs through the consumption of contaminated feed, atypical BSE is believed to occur spontaneously...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth Disease: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of the UK's disease response capability in relation to foot and mouth disease.
Answer: To reduce the risk of foot and mouth disease (FMD) to the UK, in collaboration with our National Reference Laboratory and international partners, Defra monitors the threat presented by different trade routes and works. The risk of incursion is currently c...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFoot and Mouth DiseaseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk posed by foot and mouth disease to the UK.
Answer: To reduce the risk of foot and mouth disease (FMD) to the UK, in collaboration with our National Reference Laboratory and international partners, Defra monitors the threat presented by different trade routes and works. The risk of incursion is currently c...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTransport: StormsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring transport provision in areas affected by storms.
Answer: Under the UK Government’s Lead Government Department (LGD) model, the responsibility for severe storms and weather in England rests with the following organisations: Risk Identification and Assessment: The Met Office.Prevention/Resilience, Preparation and...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStormsCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19078More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to support people affected by Storm Darragh.
Answer: As I said to the House on 10 December, Storm Darragh brought strong winds to the UK late last week, and saw a RED weather warning issued for wind covering parts of England and Wales. The Government immediately took action to prepare for the arrival of Sto...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHinduismMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the Hindu community in the UK; and what steps she is taking to promote community cohesion.
Answer: The Minister for Faith regularly engages with faith groups, including representatives from the Hindu community. On 16 December, he had the great pleasure of visiting Neasden temple to show the government’s support for Britain’s Hindu community and to than...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordXinjiang: UyghursDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on forced labour involving Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang; and what steps he is taking to help prevent goods produced by forced labour
Answer: The UK will stand firm on human rights, including China's repression of the peoples of Xinjiang. This has included raising concerns at the highest levels of the Chinese government. The Prime Minister raised human rights with President Xi at their meeting ...
Answered 6 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordIran: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the persecution of Christians in Iran; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to help tackle that is
Answer: We condemn Iran's restrictions against Freedom of Religion or Belief. Christians, particularly converts from Islam, and other minority religions, continue to face severe repression in Iran. We were proud to help deliver the Iran Human Rights resolution, a...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMandarin Language: EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will continue her Department’s funding for the Mandarin Excellence Programme.
Answer: This government remains committed to supporting the teaching of modern foreign languages in England’s schools. Languages provide an insight into other cultures and can open the door to travel and employment opportunities. They also broaden pupils’ horizon...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: FiresDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of fires caused by batteries in electric bikes.
Answer: In February 2024, the Department published detailed safety guidance on how to buy, store and charge e-cycles and e-scooters. The Department for Business and Trade also launched a “Buy safe, be safe” campaign and further guidance in October 2024 to help us...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordElectric Bicycles: FiresDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of fires as a result of batteries in electric bikes reported to emergency services.
Answer: The Department does not hold information on the number of fires caused by batteries in electric bikes. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published analysis of e-cycle and e-scooter fires in August 2024, which is available on gov.uk. It in...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordProcessed Food and SlaughterhousesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on how many (a) abattoirs and (b) food processing plants in (i) England and (ii) the UK are family-owned businesses.
Answer: This information is not held by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). There are 232 abattoirs approved by the FSA in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The FSA is aware of which are sole traders, partnerships, and which are incorporated companies, but it do...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on tackling avian influenza outbreaks in England.
Answer: Following the detection of notifiable avian influenza in poultry in England, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have stood up their well-established outbreak structures to control and eradicate disease, restore normal trade, and assist lo...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBluetongue Disease: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help (a) farmers and (b) animal-related industries to reduce the likelihood of bluetongue virus spreading.
Answer: Early identification was crucial to enabling a rapid response to a bluetongue outbreak. Defra provided free pre-movement testing to animal keepers in counties at the highest risk of incursion from infected midges originating from the continent. A restrict...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 4.105 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, if he will maintain spending on flood resilience over the next five years.
Answer: We will invest £2.4 billion across 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. Longer term funding decisions will be made at the next Spending Review.
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordWeather: Power FailuresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and (b) energy companies on resilience capability in the event of instances of power cuts d
Answer: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The Government works closely with electricity networks to continually improve and maintain the resilience of ...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood Control: DredgingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of dredging on flood mitigation.
Answer: Dredging and clearing channels are an important option for watercourse maintenance, where it is technically and cost effective, does not significantly increase flood risk for others downstream, and does not damage the environment and wildlife. Its effecti...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFlood Re: BusinessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Flood Re scheme to businesses.
Answer: Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance. As such, it is funded via a levy on UK household insurers. Business insurance oper...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStorms: Bellwin SchemeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on activating the Bellwin Scheme in response to (a) Storm Bert and (b) other storms.
Answer: The impact of flooding, wherever it occurs, is traumatic for the communities impacted and I have great sympathy for all those affected. The government is ready to consider local authority requests for Bellwin Scheme support which can help with the reimbur...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWeather: Armed ForcesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 26 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence on the potential merits of using the Armed Forces during extreme weather events.
Answer: Defra has longstanding arrangements with the Ministry of Defence to secure military support for flood response when this is required. There are well practiced procedures for requesting Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) at national and local lev...
Answered 3 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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